I need some advice on setting up a Windows 10 box. My son in college has a need to do some assignments in Excel that have some Windows-only code embedded in the mechanism to submit. There is enough of a difference between the Mac/Windows versions of Excel that he cannot use the Mac version for this.

He wishes to do it in Windows. I prefer to use a virtual machine, using either Fusion or VB. The emulation software is not the problem, it's getting a copy of Windows.

The question:
What is the best (cheapest) way to obtain a copy of Windows, and which version do I need? Also, is it possible to purchase a system on TigerDirect and use the OEM copy that comes on the system? Perhaps I could clone the new computer's HDD and just use that image. Is this possible?

I'm thinking something like this, or perhaps this .

Later I could sell off the hardware, or use it as a media server, or perhaps a Mint box. Or just to have a Windows machine floating around for when the need arises. Alternatively, is there a source to just purchase a cheap Windows license without going through the hassle? I'm thinking $110 for a retail license seems a bit much when I can get some hardware to go with it.

Any thoughts from those in the know?

Cloning a drive and bringing it into a VM might require another Win10 license. Win10 does a license check that somehow involves the motherboard. The VM reports as a different motherboard.

It happened to me. I had a Win7 laptop that got the "free" Win10 upgrade. When I cloned the drive to use it as a VMware VM, I had to buy a Win10 license.

That was my worry, but if you pull the clone before you register, wouldn't you just be registering the virtual machine?

quote:

this

windows 10: here's a copy for $22.00.
https://msofficeworks.com/prod...ZEAQYASABEgJ2nfD_BwE

If it is pretty temporary, would Amazon Workspaces fill the bill? Use, throw away when done, pay only for what you need.

Since your son is on mac, he could use bootcamp to dual-boot to Windows 10. Or as you indicated, just use virtualbox (free) / vmware fusion ($80) / parallels desktop ($80) vitalization.

As for getting a copy of Windows 10, since you son is in college, I would suspect he should be able to get heavily discounted price through the college bookstore (I assume the university offers MSDNAA priced software of MS Office & Windows - particularly if they have any IT / Comp Sci programs). I'd expect it to cost around $5 - $10 for a copy if I am remembering it correctly.

Also, out of curiosity, can you provide an example of the Windows specific embedded code / functions that are causing the problem?

I don’t have any way to get the offending code. I’m guessing it may be server side. As for a university license, apparently it is only available for the first 10 days of the semester, then you must pay full price. He didn’t know he’d need it until this week.

Amazon workspaces may be an option. I’ll look at the $22 license. That and Virtual Box would probably fit the bill nicely. Thanks.

Tell his grown ass to use the computer lab for the assignment.

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There is enough of a difference between the Mac/Windows versions of Excel that he cannot use the Mac version for this.

Why not use an online version with O365?
No need for second computer.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

There is enough of a difference between the Mac/Windows versions of Excel that he cannot use the Mac version for this.

Why not use an online version with O365?
No need for second computer.

beat me to it. And most colleges have agreements with MS where students can download and run MS Office 365 for free while they're enrolled. That's where my son got his copy for his laptop.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

There is enough of a difference between the Mac/Windows versions of Excel that he cannot use the Mac version for this.

Why not use an online version with O365?
No need for second computer.

beat me to it. And most colleges have agreements with MS where students can download and run MS Office 365 for free while they're enrolled. That's where my son got his copy for his laptop.

He has Office 365 provided through the school, but the assignments only work with whatever crap custom program the professor has written when run on a local copy of Excel for Windows.

The second system was only a way to get a cheaper Windows license, which Jack380 has solved.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

There is enough of a difference between the Mac/Windows versions of Excel that he cannot use the Mac version for this.

Why not use an online version with O365?
No need for second computer.

beat me to it. And most colleges have agreements with MS where students can download and run MS Office 365 for free while they're enrolled. That's where my son got his copy for his laptop.

He has Office 365 provided through the school, but the assignments only work with the custom software the professor has written when submitted using a local copy of Excel for Windows. One of these guys who thinks that all computers are Windows computers, so screw open standards.

I was only looking at a second system as a cheaper way to get a Windows license, which Jack830 has solved. I'm thinking I'll buy a license and use VMWare.

I would be hesitant of that msofficeworks website, it simply is throwing a scam vibe to me. I saw some mentions of the site on Reddit that indicated the keys provided were often invalid or blacklisted.

Personally the bookstore sounds like it is full of it personally. Least that wasn't my experience back in college, but times could change. May have also just been that I was in the IT program.

You may want to see if you can find the schools on msdnaa list and just work around the bookstore. At least verify that they aren't pulling a fast one.

Search for school on Microsoft.
Search link

If your son isn't in a STEM program it probably won't help though.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
I don’t have any way to get the offending code. I’m guessing it may be server side. As for a university license, apparently it is only available for the first 10 days of the semester, then you must pay full price. He didn’t know he’d need it until this week.

Amazon workspaces may be an option. I’ll look at the $22 license. That and Virtual Box would probably fit the bill nicely. Thanks.

In college, they give away those programs for virtually free. Seriously. Far from full price. Windows, Excel, etc. Like Microsoft Office for $45 and Microsoft Office Professional for $58. You can even google it. I think all you need is a .edu email address.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:


He has Office 365 provided through the school, but the assignments only work with the custom software the professor has written when submitted using a local copy of Excel for Windows. One of these guys who thinks that all computers are Windows computers, so screw open standards.

I was only looking at a second system as a cheaper way to get a Windows license, which Jack830 has solved. I'm thinking I'll buy a license and use VMWare.

Tell your son he needs to tell his professor he's not as good a VBA programmer as he thought.

Or maybe he shouldn't.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:


He has Office 365 provided through the school, but the assignments only work with the custom software the professor has written when submitted using a local copy of Excel for Windows. One of these guys who thinks that all computers are Windows computers, so screw open standards.

I was only looking at a second system as a cheaper way to get a Windows license, which Jack830 has solved. I'm thinking I'll buy a license and use VMWare.

Tell your son he needs to tell his professor he's not as good a VBA programmer as he thought.

Or maybe he shouldn't.

My thoughts exactly.